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Democrats Give Themselves a Raise While Refusing to Eliminate ‘the Most Hated Tax’ in Virginia

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger gets a thumbs up after delivering the Democratic response to U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on February 24, 2026 in Williamsburg, Virginia. (Photo by Mike Kropf/Getty Images)

Virginia Grace McKinnon / @virginiagmck

Virginia Grace McKinnon is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. Send an email to Virginia Grace.

Newley elected Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, used the national spotlight for the State of the Union response to make affordability promises. By Friday, Virginia Democrats had shot down a policy that would put more money back in Virginian’s pockets.

“I am working with our state legislature to lower costs and make the commonwealth more affordable, and it’s not just me,” Spanberger said in her response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union.

“Democrats across the country are laser focused on affordability in our nation’s capital and in state capitals and communities across America,” she claimed during the televised speech in Williamsburg, VA.

The President's reckless policies are making life more expensive for American families.Yet Republicans in Congress remain unwilling to stand up to him. The American people deserve better. pic.twitter.com/zi0r8kZ34U— Governor Abigail Spanberger (@GovernorVA) February 25, 2026

The President's reckless policies are making life more expensive for American families.Yet Republicans in Congress remain unwilling to stand up to him. The American people deserve better. pic.twitter.com/zi0r8kZ34U

On Thursday, Republican Virginia State Senator Glen Sturtevant proposed a budget amendment to cut the Car Tax, more commonly known as “the most hated tax” in Virginia, he joked.

Sturtevant’s amendment failed, however, after every Democrat voted to keep the car tax in place.

“Virginians were promised affordability. During last year’s gubernatorial debate, Governor Spanberger said she supported getting rid of the Car Tax,” Sturtevant told the Daily Signal. “But when we had the opportunity to act on that promise through my budget amendment, every Democrat voted no.”

Virginians have been very clear: get rid of the Car Tax.Members of both parties, including our Governor, campaigned on eliminating it.So I introduced a budget amendment to do just that.But when given the opportunity, Republicans were the only ones who voted in favor of… pic.twitter.com/9Fl2g8wSs8— Glen Sturtevant (@GlenSturtevant) February 27, 2026

Virginians have been very clear: get rid of the Car Tax.Members of both parties, including our Governor, campaigned on eliminating it.So I introduced a budget amendment to do just that.But when given the opportunity, Republicans were the only ones who voted in favor of… pic.twitter.com/9Fl2g8wSs8

The Virginia car tax is a personal property tax based on the value of the car that car owners have to pay every year. The tax revenue goes towards the taxpayers’ locality rather than the state.

“During the campaign, both candidates for Governor ran on eliminating the most-hated car tax,” State Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata told The Daily Signal. “Democrats spent all campaign season talking about affordability but have done nothing to deliver for Virginians.”  

Just before Democrats voted to keep the car tax, which for a family with two cars in Fairfax Virginia costs almost $500 per year, Democrats in the Senate voted to increase their own paychecks by 300%. Teachers, meanwhile, got a 3% raise.  

Virginia State Senators will now make roughly $54,000 for less than 60 days of work. That equals $900 per day. That’s about the amount some Virginia teachers make in a year.

Since Spanberger took office Democrats have introduced over 50 new tax bills to implement in Virginia.

“What we’re seeing is a consistent pattern. Democrats campaign as moderates focused on affordability, but once in office they advance policies that increase costs for families,” said Sturtevant.  

“This session alone, we’ve seen movement on a new payroll tax through SB2, continued support for costly energy mandates under the Virginia Clean Economy Act, and policies like participation in RGGI that have added roughly $500 million in energy costs passed on to ratepayers,” he continued.

Sturtevant told The Daily Signal he doesn’t believe this vote was symbolic. “It was a real opportunity to deliver meaningful tax relief to working families struggling with inflation, rising utility bills, and higher costs across the board,” he claimed.  

“If Virginia Democrats are serious about affordability, they should start by voting for real tax relief instead of just talking about it on the campaign trail,” Sturtevant conclude. 

Spanberger was unable to be reached for comment.   

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